Second Annual Sustainable Energy for All Forum - “Financing Sustainable Energy for All”

On the final day of the SE4All Forum, the Global Energy Ministerial Dialogue reconvened on the theme ‘Future of Energy: Leadership Actions and Commitments.’ After opening statements by Gyan Acharya, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Chief Executive, SE4All, and Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, a high-level panel on ‘The Future of Energy: A Global Agenda’ took place.

In a session moderated by Elizabeth Thompson, Senior Advisor, SE4All, that continued for most of the day, more than 80 high-level representatives from energy ministries, business, civil society, multilateral agencies and international organizations outlined their leadership and action commitments aimed at achieving the SE4All objectives. Akon, singer and co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa, made a special appearance, calling for more focused action to address energy challenges in Africa.

In the closing plenary session, Kandeh Yumkella told delegates that in responding to calls to make this year’s Forum more inclusive and participatory, “we have done have done our best to make sure that all your voices were heard.” He invited all interested delegates to join him on the podium to indicate their commitment to ending energy poverty.

On the third day of the SE4All Forum, delegates convened in the first-ever Global Energy Ministerial Dialogue, taking place from 20-21 May at the UN General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters in New York. The main objective of the policy dialogue is to reaffirm the Rio+20 determination “to act to make sustainable energy for all a reality.”

Following the opening plenary in the morning, delegates convened in a high-level panel on ‘Catalyzing a Trillion Dollar Investment.’ Three high-level panels then followed to discuss how to accelerate the three SE4All 2030 goals of ensuring universal energy access, doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. In the afternoon, following a dialogue on energy, women and children’s health, two high-level panels took place under the overall theme of ‘Strengthening Global Energy Cooperation on Energy.’

Side events held during the day included a high-level leadership luncheon hosted by the European Commission and a high-level event on financing sustainable energy for least developed countries convened by the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).

On Tuesday 19 May, participants convened in plenary and in parallel multi-stakeholder dialogues organized under thematic tracks on finance, access, energy efficiency, renewable energy, global policy agenda and growing the movement. Several major initiatives and reviews of SE4All global targets were presented during the day, including: a European initiative to boost electrification, known as ElectriFI, that aims to catalyse private sector investments; a new methodology on short-lived climate pollutants; a Pew Charitable Trusts report analyzing clean energy investment, finance and deployment trends in emerging markets; the 2015 edition of IRENA’s ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review’; and REN21’s Renewables Global Status Report.

Progress under the three SE4All objectives of access, energy efficiency and renewable energy was addressed in sessions covering, among other topics: the SE4All High Impact Opportunity (HIO) areas on on Clean Energy Mini-Grids, the Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Bionergy; the SE4All Energy Efficiency Accelerator Platform, a public-private partnership programme to scale up energy efficiency policy, action and investment; the energy efficiency and cities initiatives; the 1 Gigaton Coalition on promoting emission’s savings from renewable energy and energy efficiency; a World Bank-led initiative to reduce global gas flaring by 2030; innovative financing for clean cooking solutions; and energy access in conflict settings; and integrating action on climate mitigation and energy access.

During the Masdar-hosted high-level luncheon on SE4All with the Advisory Board and Ministers, dignitaries discussed acceleration of innovative solutions on SE4All.

The second Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Forum opened on Monday, 18 May 2015, at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel in New York. Discussions took place in several plenary sessions as well as eight dialogue sessions that convened in parallel throughout the day. The dialogue sessions were structured around the following thematic tracks: finance; access; country action; innovation for impact; global policy agenda; and growing the movement. Several reports on global progress in attaining SE4All targets were presented during the day, including: the World Bank’s Readiness for Investment in Sustainable Energy (RISE) support tool; the Global Tracking Framework 2015; and the Energy for Women’s and Children’s Health Impact Report. A high-level roundtable on mobilizing finance for SE4All in Africa took place in the afternoon. The day closed with video addresses by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim.